A tough new law that allows Ontario police to impound the cars of suspected street racers on the spot is getting the right message through to speeders in the Ottawa area, police say.

"We're having a hard time getting vehicles that are racing and/or motorcycles doing stunts, et cetera, so I think we are having an effect," said Sgt. Marc Gatien, who said when the law first went into effect, police were "picking off" two or three vehicles per night.

"They've learned that they're losing their car — that's their baby and that hurts them a lot."

In addition to allowing police to seize vehicles suspected of travelling more than 50 kilometres over the speed limit and impounding them for seven days, the new law also allows police to immediately take away a driver's licence for the same amount of time.

Anyone convicted under the law faces a fine of $2,000 to $10,000.

Still 'tons' of street racing: driver

Last Friday evening Const. Ian Mongeon, a member of the Ottawa Police anti-speeding task force called Project Erase, pulled over and ticketed about 35 drivers for various traffic infractions, mostly speeding. However, the only vehicle travelling more than 50 kilometres over the speed limit was a Toyota Sienna minivan. The driver was not racing another car, but his van was impounded for seven days anyway.

Among the other drivers pulled over was Seamus O'Hara, who was stopped for a headlight issue.

Mongeon ticketed him for having four bald tires, a cracked windshield and an expired licence plate on his modified Acura. The car was then towed away.

O'Hara's tires were, in fact, new, but recommended for racing only — something he said he does only at the track.

But he said "tons" of street racing is still going on in Ottawa.

"I don't think it's as big a deal as the police and media are making it out to be," he said.

O'Hara said he believes drunk driving kills a lot more people than street racing does, and that's where police should focus their resources instead of street racing.